 |
|
- Prepare.
Gather the information you will need to have available to register your site. The Ability Group registration form - link to registration form will serve two purposes. Firstly, to send the required information to us for your initial registration with several search engines and secondly, for you to copy and save in your own efforts at promoting your site.
- Research.
Before you start promoting your site, be sure to do some research. Because of the number of options, there are many opportunities to make a mess of the promotion process. Get the facts first. The Web has a lot of great resources that can help you promote your site. One of the best places to start is to visit the Virtual Promote Web site at http://www.virtualpromote.com/. Be sure to subscribe to their newsletter.
- Promote it off-line.
Include your Web site URL (universal resource locator) on all your business materials, as many people find a Web site from off-line sources. By including your URL on your business cards, brochures, vehicle, company letterhead and other media materials, you will also increase the amount of exposure your site gets.
- Register your site.
Once your site is online and ready to receive visitors, be sure to register it with relevant search engines and directories. Be sure to source search engines specific to relevant niche markets that may not be available through mainstream registration services. It is also a good idea to check back to ensure that your site has been properly listed with the key search engines.
- Get mentioned on popular sites.
One of the best ways to drive traffic to your Web site is to be mentioned on major Web publications. This could involve being an award recipient, being listed on a featured list of Web sites or being mentioned in an online article. All of these forms of publicity are excellent traffic generators.
- Run a promotion.
Whether a sweepstakes, give-away or contest, promotions can be a great way to increase the traffic flow to a Web site. Offer a number of valuable prizes and make sure that people learn about your promotion. Be sure to keep track of the response to your promotion, as this information will be useful if and when you decide to run a promotion again.
- Reciprocal links.
Exchanging links with complementary Web sites can create a win-win situation for your companies. These links can be extremely effective when the link lists are well sorted and are related to a niche market or interest. It is acceptable Netiquette to send a request for a reciprocal link after assessing the potential link-site and determining that there is a possible fit between the two sites. It is polite to offer a returning link, but not always necessary. As long as you are polite and to the point, most people will be receptive to your posts. Another good reason for utilizing reciprocal links is that some search engines sort sites according to their "link popularity." This means that sites that have the greatest number of external links will place them higher up on the search results list. Once you have determined that you want links added to your site, call The Ability Group to discuss how you want them included.
- Communicate.
Newsgroups and e-mail groups offer you the opportunity to communicate with people in targeted communities. Posting helpful information in these groups, in combination with an effective "signature" on each e-mail you send (known in Net jargon as your Sig Line), can generate more Web site traffic than the best search engines.
- Keep records.
Once you start your promotional campaign, keep track of your URL submissions. It is a good idea to check back with the key search engines to ensure that your site has been properly listed.
- Keep at it.
Once the promotional process is started, set regular goals and expected outcomes for yourself and keep up the good work. Repeated exposure of your Sig Line in targeted e-mail and newsgroups, up-to-date listings in key search engines and directories -- and a growing list of sites that link to you will all help to keep traffic flowing to your site. Do not expect traffic to jump immediately. Remember that a good site is like a growing plant that requires constant care, and appropriate trimming and pruning.
|
|
|
